stroke symptoms/incompetent nuerologist

[normi]

31/F.  Had classic symptoms of stroke, when I was taken to the ER I was told I was having a strokeby nuerologist. Right side of my body was paralyzed, and left side of face was affected.  CT w/out contrast,MRI,EEG all came back negative.  When reading over nuerologist notes from ER he stated that Spasticity was observed also.  I was hospitalized for 3 days, at the end the nuerologist told me that I was stressed and that I was suffering from conversion disorder since the test he did came back negative.  Saw a nuero/psych and he stated that there is cognative impairment.  The nuerologist does not agree with the findings.  After my "stroke" I could not read, write, speak clearly.  Also had feelings of electric shock go through the right side of my body, pins and needles feeling on soles of feet and palms of hands and severe muscle spasms. I still have migraines daily. Have regained speech but I stutter and do not speak at the level before I was hospitalized.  I have seen 4 psychiatrist and they have all cleared me from having conversion disorder.  Nuerologist informed me that symptoms will go aways w/in 2 weeks since it was all psychological.  It has been 1 1/2 months and my speech is still affected, and I suffer from muscle spasms which make my muscles tighten, and cognitive impairment.  I have looked up Spasticity and my symptoms match them perfectly my hand curls into a fist, my knee jerks involuntarily, my feet club and turn into each other, and my big toe turns up away from my other toes.  Nuero states that I have tics not spasticity.  Saw my nuerologist and he told me that he does not believe that I had a stroke since the MRI was clean.  He has admitted to me that he has not done all test possible, and does not plan on doing them since "in his professional opinion he believes I did not have a stroke."  He has told me to go get a second opinion because they may want to do a lumbar puncture and run other test, and is interested in what they find. The nuerologist basically has said that I am "faking it." The problem I have with that is that I don't always have the spasms.  They occur at random times, when I am tired or cold the spasms get worse.  He says that I can control them.  I was on birth control for 3 months straight w/out no break for endometriosis, and I am overweight.  But neurologist states that those 2 factors have nothing to do with has happened to me and basically would not cause a stroke.  The nuero/psych and psychiatrist have stated that conversion disorder can't be diagnosed until all medical possibilities are ruled out.  I have only seen the nuerologist a total of 3 times including my ER visit. I told nuerologist about what the psychiatrists have said and he said "oh well different doctors will have different opinions."  I have asked nuerologist can someone have a stroke, and all test come back negative he said yes, but that is not the case for me.  I am asking to see if a doctor will answer this post and for advice from others I don't know what to do next, if I did suffer a stroke I don't want to have another one.  The nuerologist has been no help on my last visit 2 days ago he said he does not know what caused my symptoms and that he hopes the go away as mysteriously as they appeared.  He said he would like to find out, but will not run anymore test.  Said that is what the second opinion is for.  I have complained about him, but I must tell you I am in the ARMY on active duty and the complaints go nowhere.  He is arrogant and pompous and will not help me.  I feel like my hands are tied.  PLEASE HELP!

[needhelp241]

I just wanted to add, that you know your body better than anyone else and if it was a TIA/Mini Stroke, those are temporary and usually do not show up on x-rays but people that do have TIA's have something like a 30% chance of having another TIA or actually stroke within the following year. So you really need to be aware of stroke symptoms and if you get any of these symptoms you need to go straight to the ER.

Symptoms:
Numbness, especially on one side
Paralysis, one sided
trouble speaking or understanding
Problems walking/bad cordination
problems seeing
worst headach of your life that comes on quickly

This is a test that Emergency response workers tend to do called prehospital stroke scale test and  is a common method for quickly assessing a patient’s responses in key functional areas:

The patient is asked to show teeth or smile
Normal – both sides of face move equally well
Abnormal – one side of face does not move as well as the other side


The patient is asked to close both eyes and hold both arms straight out for 10 seconds
Normal – both arms move the same or both arms do not move at all
Abnormal – one arm does not move or one arm drifts down


The patient is asked to repeat a simple phrase, such as “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks”
Normal – patient uses correct words with no slurring
Abnormal – patient slurs words, uses the wrong words or is unable to speak

[needhelp241]

Hello! Just wanted to put in my two cents. Ok I had a mini stroke (TIA) and this is what I suggest according to your symptoms. Maybe you only had a TIA, where there is no damage. If that is the case I would research TIA's and get the test done to find the cause because TIA's can be a warning sign that means you could have a stoke in the future, if that is the case you want to make some lifestyle changes, eat right, DO NOT SMOKE as this srinks arterys, Exersize, and take vitimans, foltic acid, vitiman E and a good multi are good for the blood, also consider taking one baby asprin a day. Secondly maybe you just damaged a nerve and that is why you are left with these spams, ask your doctor about nerve tests. Third epilespy (partial ones).

You may want to get your nerves tested, epilesphy, diabetes test (can cause numbness, and make sure you get a fasting test), clorestoral tested, B vitiman levels tested, tested for clotting disorders. Other than that all you can really do it take care of yourself, eat right, exersize, do not smoke, and control any current health issues you may have.

I am not a doctor this is only my personal opinion!

Take care and God bless!

[patsy10]

Damage to, I believe the frontal lobe of the brain can cause personality changes and things like that.  I work in the medical field and have seen stoke patients yell out profanity and other things that they normally would not.  I'm talking even 80 year olds using the worst profanity you ever heard.  Family members are horrified by these things and usually say they never heard their family member use these words before.  Brain injuries can cause all sorts of personality changes.

[normi]

oh I also forgot to mention I have osteoma on the back left side of my head.  That area is very sensitive.  I have been told that the osteoma has nothing to do with symptoms.  It sticks out of my head, they said it was just a calcified growth.

[normi]

Thanks for the comments.  Yes I saw my GYNO about 2 weeks after my "stroke" and she took me off immediately.  But the nuero still says the pill has nothing to do with it, even though gyno was very concerned.  I also forgot to metion before that I also had while in the hospital uncontrollable bouts of laughing and crying.  It did happen in front of the nuero and he looked at me very strangely, my mother asked him if he had ever seen this and he stated yes, but did not go into it.  Has anyone else experienced where you are too honest you say everything that is your mind.  My family has told me that I cannot hold anything back, if I think is someone is fat, ugly hair, etc...I tell them, I was never like that before.  I read about this in another post, but cannot recall the name for it.  I am getting a 2nd opinion at a university hospital, but all the old notes are being sent to them.  I just hope they do not look at the old nuero notes and say it is also in my head.  According to the military system I have a psych disorder because of the nuero clinical notes, so they are not helping me.  

[alchris]

do not let them convince you its all in your head.  Doctors are so imcompetent and when they cant figure it out all the patients are faking what they feel.  first and foremost it does sound like a stroke ( my grandmother had quite a few so I know the signs)  Second and most important I believe if I read correclty you are on the pill.  The pill can cause strokes.  Please please go to your GYN and get off them.  Ask your GYN for referalls about any testing you can have.  Get copies of all your films and reports as with the incompetentancy of the medical profession films can be read wrong.  But please look into the pill. for some women (NOT ALL) they can cause strokes so please be careful about being on them, you might need to come off then.  best wishes

[patsy10]

These kind of stories just make me so angry!!!  Go to someone else.  Don't let that jerk do this to you.  You clearly have some kind of problem.  Mini strokes, or TIA's don't show up on scans.  It may not even be a stroke but it's something.

[LLWB]

You definately need a second opinion! Are you on sick call I hope! Please see a new neuro soon, your old one sounds like a quack!

[Lightheaded2]

I'd say you had a doozy of a stroke and I am NOT  a Doctor nor do I pretend to be one.The spasms do come and go as I have found in my case although I have picked up other symptoms now that lead me to believe its TIA although they don't disappear like they should. Good luck to you and don't let anyone tell you your wrong about what your feeling, its your body  and you should know it better than any Doctor anyways.

Bill